Improvement in chair-seats



rrnn STATES PATENT OFFICE.

GARDNER A. WATKINS, OF CAVENDISH, PROCTORSVILLE POST OFFICE, VER- MONT, ASSIGNOR TO THE AMERICAN CHAIR-SEAT COMPANY, OF GARDNER,

MASSACHUSETTS.

IMPROVEMENT IN CHAIR-SEATS.

Specification forming part 0f Letters Patent No. 118,079, dated August 15, 1871.

To all lwhom yit may concern:

Be it known that I, GARDNER Al WATKINS, of Cavendish, Proctorsville Post-Office, in the county of Vindsor and State of Vermont, have invented anew and Improved Chair-Seat; and I do hereby declare that the following is a full and .exact description thereof, reference being had to thel accompanyin g drawings and to the letters of reference marked thereon making a part of this speciiication.

The object of this invention is to attach, in a simple and substantial manner, the fabrics composing the bottoms of chairs to the frame of the chair-seat; and it applies more particularly to such chair-bottoms as are woven in a continuous piece or web. A bottom of `this kind is secured to the frame by cutting a channel around the seat-frame and conning the bottom fabric in position by a strip of wood or metal bent to the required form and pressed into said channel, forcing the bottom fabric therein, and thus not only stretching the bottom tightly across the seatframe, but at the same time iirmly attaching and holding it in place.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 represents a plan view of. chair-seat, showing my invention; Fig. 2, a sectional view of the same; and Fig. 3, a modification of the same in section.

Similar letters of reference indicate corresponding parts in the several drawings.

A represents a seat-frame, which may be formed of one or more pieces of wood. In the top of this frame, near its edge, I form a deep and narrow channel running entirely around the frame, conforming to the general outline thereof. I then prepare a strip or spline,C, which may be of any pliable wood or metal, of the same length and thickness as the groove, and of such width when the bottom fabric is around it as will cause it to accurately iit the channel or groove B. This strip or spline, by steaming or otherwise, is bent to such form as will conform to the shape ofthe channel or groove B. The chair-bottom fabric, made of any suitable material, is now laid over the seat-frame A, and the strip or spline C, previously bent to the form, as above stated, is then placed upon the bottom fabric immediately over the groove B, and, by suitable pressure, the strip C is forced into the groove B, carrying with it the bottom fabric E, and in this Way rlnly secure or attach the seat-bottom E to the seat-frame A. In order more effectually to prevent the bottom Afabric E from drawing or rendering, the strip C may be formed of an irregular shape, (see Fig. 2,) andA thus present a series of sharp turns or angles, around which the bottom fabric is forced, and, thus olfer greater resistance to any tendency on the part of the bottom fabric to draw out from the groove.

It will readilybe seen that the continuous strip, passing as it does entirely around the frame, adds greatly to the strength thereof, particularly at the corners, where joints are usually made.

lI do not confine myself' to forming the groove in any particular part of the frame, nor to any particular shape of said groove or strip, but they may be of any size or shape desired 5 but That I do claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is'- Securing the bottom fabrics of chairs to the seat-frames thereof by means of a groove or channel, B, and a continuous strip or spline, C, fitting therein, substantially as herein shown and described.

G. A. WATKINS.

NVitnesses H. L. WATTENBERG, G. M. PLYMPTON. 

